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Another thing...!

The lowest Zanussi model has sensible timed drying only, i.e., no 'moisture sensor' programmes such as 'cupboard dry', iron dry, etc.

From what I've read online, these moisture sensor programmes seem to cause customers of other brands an awful lot of grief.
 
"Energy efficent vented tumble dryer"

There is no such thing.

If it has to be vented and cheap, go with the cheapest timer based model with reverse action. Reason being that the reversing on these is verry consistent cause its timed, and frequent predictable reversing is a godsent with beddings.
Sensor drying only gets good more up the line. And durability wise, there really isn't much to go wrong.

This for example is a verry basic, well known Indesit model.

http://ao.com/product/idv75-indesit-eco-time-vented-tumble-dryer-white-15791-19.aspx

However if sensor based drying is wished upon, which I'd totally understand, Hotpoint has the widest range of sensor dry dryness degrees and a good price. Though, durability wise, today, you can't expect much from anything.

http://ao.com/product/ftvfg65bgg-hotpoint-vented-tumble-dryer-silver-48495-19.aspx

Alternativley, if the Whirlpool cooperation isn't for your likes, AO has a pretty well specked Candy dryer on offer which should have decent sensor drying as well.

http://ao.com/product/csvv9lg-candy-grando-vita-vented-tumble-dryer-white-49150-19.aspx

I'd suggest a heatpump dryer, but the cheapest start at 350£ and up, with decent units for 380£.

This Beko is A++ (means uses less then half the energy a vented machine would), and generally, these work pretty decently in terms of tangeling.

http://ao.com/product/dhr73431w-beko-condenser-tumble-dryer-white-36590-18.aspx
 
If you have a gas hook up, I would get a White Knight gas dryer. Gas dryers would be more economical to use, and with a gas dryer you can dry 3-4 loads with gas. I don't know how much they cost over there, but if it is possible, I would get a gas dryer.
 
Interesting thing about moisture sensors

At least here in USA they have been required on even BOL dryers for yonks now. Even compact/portable 120v dryers have sensors. IIRC federal government mandated the things as part of energy savings measures.

Case in point my vintage Whirlpool portable/compact dryer (in Harvest Gold, which gives an indication of age), has only timed dry. Newer models sold today have sensors.

https://www.searsoutlet.com/LDR3822...e/d/product_details.jsp?pid=28471&mode=seeAll
 
I'd be very cautious of Indesit!

What with all the carry on with tumble dryer safety recalls, I personally wouldn't trust Indesit to build a fireguard. And I certainly wouldn't touch them with a bargepole.

My mum has a Zanussi condenser model (younger than mine), from about 2009. Her model has the same basic design as the vented square door model shown above in Reply #1. It seems to be a reliable machine, and quiet and smooth in operation.

Since there should be even fewer components in a vented model, I would suggest that Zanussi is perhaps the brand to set your sights upon.
 
White Knight electric dryers

Having seen them close up, I am underwhelmed by them. Plasticky, and some users' reviews online were less than impressed by the door catch.

I always thought they looked cheap and nasty. Certainly never robust.
 
What about the White Knight compact dryer? Im only after a dryer for towels and sheets, socks and underwear for when i dont have heat on or cant kine dry. September far too early and not cold enough to have log burner or central heating so clothes drying is difficult this time of year. Both Hotpoint and Indesit made in Britain so im assuming build quality is good know and fire risk not a problem. I dobt want to spend no more than £200.

The Zanussi looks good but is out of stock on John Lewis and Currys 😂
 
Affordable Vented Dryer wold be a Natural Heated Gas Dryer

Just like virtually every dryer in Europe used in laundromats hotels and other places where they are serious about getting clothing dried fast and at the lowest cost.

Other than a clothes line there is no more economical or environmentally sound way to dry clothing.

John L.
 
What about this dryer? 3 KG compact dryer. Any good? If not then i will go for the B rated White Knight one direct from White Knight themselves.

Thanks for all the recommendations.

liberatordeluxe-2017100212320904451_1.jpg
 
AEG vented dryer

The problem with the AEG that 'Nickuk' mentioned, is that it has, once again, moisture sensors. As revealed by the programme dial, below.

The most basic Zanussi equivalent, has timed drying.

Some manufacturers state 'Sensor Drying' meaning 'moisture/dampness sensors'. They're the ones that seem to cause folk grief.

Other manufacturers jump on the band-wagon and state 'Sensor Drying' meaning 'bog-standard thermostatically controlled heating' i.e. when drum gets too hot, the heat is switched off.

rolls_rapide-2017100217114806410_1.jpg
 
Zanussi vented dryer

It seems, like the AEG vented dryer, that venting is optionally: left, or rear, or right. Sensible.
 
Absolutely the AEG has moisture sensors and absolutely these cause problems.

However the basic timed dry Zanussi is computer controlled as opposed to a mechanical timer so also has potential for problems. Furthermore it has no progress indicator / doesn't count down which isn't ideal either.

Venting positions - absolutely - as far as I know it's only E'lux group or Miele (a snip at £700) which have the common sense to offer left, rear or right venting.

This alone is enough to place E'lux vented dryers at the top of the list for me. The timed Zanussi would surely be a good buy. The AEG looks to be a good alternative too at a sensible price (v little more than the Zanussi) with a slightly higher class look and intuitive fascia - in my opinion.
 
Moisture Sensors

Apparently, other purchasers' experiences with moisture sensor machines, is less than enthusiastic.

Complaints of three hours to dry clothes.
Complaints of the machine switching itself off after 10 - 15 minutes.
Complaints of damp laundry on the 'cupboard dry' setting.
Complaints of mixed loads not drying properly.

Oh, and apparently the sensor machines nowadays don't like being stuck in a cold garage. There were complaints about that too.

From AO.com review:

"Thought I had the perfect replacement when the tumble dryer in my garage broke down. AEG T65170AV was a Which best buy!! ON A COLD WET DAY MY AEG t65170AV TUMBLE DRYER DID NOT DRY THE CLOTHES. Engineer informed me I was his 2nd call about this problem and he managed to find a paragraph on page 17 in the Manual WILL NOT WORK WHEN THE AMBIENT TEMPERATURE IS BELOW 5 degrees. SO USELESS IF IN A GARAGE. Have now purchased an Indesit which is OK. This problem is NOT mentioned as a headline on any information about the product. you ONLY find out when it does not work and someone gets you to read page 17 in the manual. Which? did not know about the "ambient" temperature, and were amazed. I have recommend they advise ALL Which members about this."

Bosch sensor machines were slated by customers too:

"Never had a dryer like this. It doesn't dry. I never put clothes on soaking wet and even on the extra dry programme they come out damp. A couple of times it's stopped after two minutes claiming a full load is now dry. I hate it. There's no way of putting it on for 'X' amount of time."
 
Having used Electrolux, BSH, Miele and Whirlpool sensor dryers, I xan say that indeed sometimes sensors are of and sometimes they are spot on.

General denil abou that is just ignorance.

No dryer ever should run at temps below 5C. Danger of frost and thus damage to the machine. Further it lowers the efficency.
 
"No dryer ever should run at temps below 5C"

Rubbish!

Vented dryers can.

And I can well imagine the scenario of someone having an old vented dryer in their cold garage (cos of lack of room in the house). And when old dryer wears out, the unsuspecting consumer then buys a modern machine - totally unaware of the limited ambient temperature range.

An analogy would be to freezers, also kept in garages. There is normal 'N Class' (i.e. suitable for normal room temperatures), and 'SN Class' - sub-normal, suitable for use in colder rooms, garages and outhouses.
 
My 1978 WP Electronic Sensor N gas Dryer

That I bough at a thrift store 15+ years ago for $20 has been working perfectly out on my screened-in-porch, I have often been amazed whether it is 90F+ or well below freezing it always works perfectly, I certainly never removed anything damp from it.

 

I use this old Harvest Gold Imperial Mark -12 about 75% of the time to dry clothing at home because I like the clean fresh smell of clothing dried outdoors.

 

The rest of my home clothes drying is done in a similar 1975 N-gas LKM dryer in the basement, I tend to use the indoor dryer when the inside and outdoor temperatures are similar so you don't have to worry about pulling hot-humid or very cold into the house.

 

John L.
 
White Knight

I'm currently enjoying using a uni-directional White Knight CL311 Compact dryer.
I'm amazed at just how quick it dries a 3 kg cotton load in just 50 minutes after being spun at 1500 rpm.

optima-2017100420071508368_1.jpg
 
Sensor dryers

In the 15 years we’ve had sensor dryers in the family, I’ve never encountered a problem with performance, over/underdrying, or artificially long drying times. This is across the three formats (vented, condenser, and heat pump).

This includes:

2 sensor, vented dryers my parents have owned. The current one (now 11/12 years old) was installed in a garage for 4 years after a house move, before being brought inside when they converted the boiler room into a utility room. My mum uses it on one setting (I don’t believe the dial has been moved in the past few years she’s had it!) and she still swears it is the best dryer she has ever owned - simply because she can turn it on, walk away and it does it’s job.

I briefly had a cheap, sensor, vented dryer in a cellar in a flat I lived in a few years ago - sold to a friend which is still going strong.

My first condenser dryer with sensors, bought in 2004, worked perfectly for me over many years and is still going strong with my brother. I upgraded to another, second hand condenser (simply to match my washing machine at the time) which worked to perfection on the default, normal setting.

When that broke, a cheap condenser dryer (with sensors) bought in an emergency to tide us through happily served for a couple of years, and is still operating successfully at 4 or 5 years old in my grandparents garage.

I have now had a heat pump dryer for the past 3 years, which dries perfectly and quickly on the default, normal setting (most loads within an hour, give or take a few minutes).

This doesn’t include the sensor dryers I’ve had encounters with as part of the collection, or used at friends/other collectors etc.

I have not mentioned brands as I believe that has no correlation over whether sensor technology works or not.

As with everything, your mileage may vary but more often than not sensor dryers “not working” tend to be in most cases user or installation error - although of course it would be foolish to say there aren’t duff products out there. Nowadays, most brands allow you to fine adjust the drying levels should the default not be to your satisfaction. However that is something I’ve personally never had the need to do.

This isn’t to take away from timed dryers - it is purely personal preference at the end of the day, but it is incorrect to say sensor drying does not work and unfairly criticise, when it clearly does for most people in most situations.

In conclusion, my advice would be to buy the best sensor dryer which you can afford.

PS. Just one final point: people (myself included) will more often than not only leave a review when there has been a negative experience. 99.9% of those who are happy that a machine gets on and does a good job, are so satisfied that they don’t even think to leave about leaving a review.
 
@optima Your dryer looks very much similar to the 3KG compact dryer with reverse action in the Argos catalogue. Do you roughly know how much it costs you to run yours and what the energy efficiency is? The one in the Argos catalogue is C rated. As mentioned in previous posts i only plan on using it for towels, sheets and underwear when the weather doesn't permit to dry outside or its too warm to have central heating on.
 
@washerguy02 The Indesit/Hotpoint tumble dryers are made in the UK now so are these ones safe from the product recall for fire safety? I agree the B rated is pretty good for a tumble dryer.
 

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